System and method of designing a load bearing layer of an inflatable vessel

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is provided for designing a restraint layer of an inflatable vessel. The restraint layer is inflatable from an initial uninflated configuration to an inflated configuration and is constructed from a plurality of interfacing longitudinal straps and hoop straps. The method involves providing computer processing means (e.g., to receive user inputs, perform calculations, and output results) and utilizing this computer processing means to implement a plurality of subsequent design steps. The computer processing means is utilized to input the load requirements of the inflated restraint layer and to specify an inflated configuration of the restraint layer. This includes specifying a desired design gap between pairs of adjacent longitudinal or hoop straps, whereby the adjacent straps interface with a plurality of transversely extending hoop or longitudinal straps at a plurality of intersections. Furthermore, an initial uninflated configuration of the restraint layer that is inflatable to achieve the specified inflated configuration is determined. This includes calculating a manufacturing gap between pairs of adjacent longitudinal or hoop straps that correspond to the specified desired gap in the inflated configuration of the restraint layer.

1. A computer-implemented method of designing a restraint layer for an inflatable vessel, the restraint layer being constructed of a plurality of interfacing generally vertical straps and generally horizontal straps and inflatable from an initial, uninflated configuration to an inflated configuration, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a computing processing means; and 
 utilizing the computer processing means to
 input loading requirements of the inflated restraint layer, 
 specify an inflated configuration of the restraint layer, including specifying a design gap between pairs of adjacent vertical or horizontal straps, whereby the adjacent straps interface with a plurality of transversely extending horizontal or vertical straps at a plurality of intersections; and 
 determine an initial uninflated configuration of the restraint layer that is inflatable to achieve the specified inflated configuration, including calculating a manufacturing gap between the pairs of adjacent straps that correspond to the specified design gap in the inflated configuration of the restraint layer. 
 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of calculating the manufacturing gap includes reducing the specified design gap by elongation calculated in the transversely extending straps to determine the manufacturing gap. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of calculating the manufacturing gap includes,
 calculating the load applied along the transversely extending strap during inflation, based on the user inputs; 
 calculating a percentage elongation in the transversely extending straps in the vicinity of the adjacent straps based, at least partly, on the calculated loads; and 
 reducing the specified design gap between the two adjacent straps by applying the percent elongation calculated for the transversely extending gaps, thereby determining the manufacturing gap between the two adjacent straps that correspond to the specified design gap. 
 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of specifying the inflated configuration includes specifying a plurality of indexing locations at a plurality of the intersections, and wherein pairs of indexing locations are spaced apart by an index gap therebetween, said method further comprising the step of calculating an initial index gap that corresponds to the index gap in the inflated configuration. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the initial index gap being determined as a sum of a calculated manufacturing gap between the adjacent straps and a width of the transversely extending strap. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said step of utilizing computer processing means include inputting a set of material properties for the generally vertical straps and the generally horizontal straps. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said specifying step includes selecting a geometric configuration of the inflated restraint layer. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said generally vertical straps are longitudinal straps and said generally horizontal straps are hoop straps, and wherein said step of specifying an inflated configuration includes defining the hoop straps and longitudinal straps of the inflated configuration, including specifying the quantity of each strap. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of outputting a set of manufacturing specifications for the restraint layer in the initial inflated configuration, whereby the set of manufacturing specifications includes a unique identifier of each of the straps and a relative position of each of the straps in the initial, uninflated configuration. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said outputting step includes specifying for each strap, a relative position of each index location, the index location specifying an intersection between a hoop strap and a longitudinal strap whereat the two straps are to be indexed. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said outputting step further includes generating a template positionable adjacent a strap to locate index locations thereon. 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein said outputting step includes generating dimensions of the template. 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein said template includes a marking window, said template being alignable adjacent a strap to align the marking window with an index location thereon. 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein said step of utilizing computer processing means includes determining the index locations, for the inflated configuration, based on the calculated manufacturing gaps. 
   
   
     15. A method of designing a restraint layer of an inflatable vessel, the restraint layer being constructed of a web of transversely interfacing straps and inflatable from an initial, uninflated configuration to an inflated configuration, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing the load requirements of the restraint layer in the inflated configuration; 
 providing a set of material properties for the straps; 
 specifying an inflated, geometric configuration of the restraint layer, including specifying a design gap between a pair of adjacent straps of the restraint layer in the inflated configuration, whereby the adjacent straps interface with a plurality of transversely extending straps at a plurality of intersections; and 
 calculating a manufacturing gap between the adjacent straps in the initial, uninflated configuration, the manufacturing gap corresponding to the specified design gap, said calculating step including
 calculating the percent elongation at the plurality of intersections along each transversely extending strap based, at least partly, on the calculated loads; and 
 reducing the specified gap by the calculated percent elongation to determine the corresponding manufacturing gap. 
 
 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the specified inflated configuration includes a plurality of indexing locations at a plurality of the intersections, and wherein consecutive index locations are spaced apart by an index gap therebetween, said method further comprising the step of calculating an initial index gap for a pair of the adjacent straps, in the initial uninflated configuration, that corresponds to an index gap therebetween in the inflated configuration. 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein said calculating step includes calculating the initial index gap from a sum of a calculated manufacturing gap between the adjacent straps and a width of the transversely extending straps. 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of specifying an inflated configuration includes defining hoop straps and longitudinal straps in the inflated configuration, including specifying the quantity of each strap and positioning each strap in the inflated configuration. 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of generating tangible media providing manufacturing specifications for the restraint layer in the initial inflated configuration, whereby the manufacturing specifications include a unique identifier of each of the positioned straps and a relative position of each of the straps in the initial, uninflated configuration. 
   
   
     20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein said generating step includes specifying for each strap, a relative position of each index location, the index location specifying an intersection between a hoop strap and a longitudinal strap whereat the two straps are to be indexed. 
   
   
     21. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of generating a template positionable adjacent the strap to locate index locations thereon. 
   
   
     22. The method of  claim 21 , wherein the specified inflated configuration includes a plurality of indexing locations at a plurality of the intersections, and wherein consecutive index locations are spaced apart by an index gap therebetween, said method further comprising the step of calculating an initial index gap for a pair of the adjacent straps, in the initial uninflated configuration, that corresponds to an index gap therebetween in the inflated configuration, said calculating step including calculating the initial index gap from a sum of a calculated manufacturing gap between the adjacent straps and a width of the transversely extending straps and said step of generating a template includes providing an index gap dimension on the template. 
   
   
     23. A method of manufacturing a restraint layer of an inflatable vessel, the restraint layer being constructed of a web of a set of first straps and a set of second straps that transversely extend relative to the first set of straps and interfaces therewith at a plurality of intersections, said method comprising the steps of:
 specifying an inflated configuration of the restraint layer including the design gaps between adjacent straps of the web and indexing locations between the first straps and second straps; 
 providing the specifications of an initial, uninflated configuration of the restraint layer based on the inflated configuration, including the manufacturing gaps corresponding to the specified design gaps of the inflated configuration of the restraint layer, whereby the initial, uninflated configuration of the restraint layer is inflatable to achieve the inflated configuration and the specified design gaps therefor; and 
 assembling the straps of the initial, uninflated configuration including spacing adjacent straps according to the manufacturing gaps. 
 
   
   
     24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein the specified inflated configuration includes a plurality of indexing locations at a plurality of the intersections and consecutive index locations are spaced apart by an index gap therebetween, said step of providing the specifications of the initial, uninflated configuration includes specifying initial index gaps corresponding to the specified index gaps in the inflated configuration. 
   
   
     25. The method of  claim 23 , wherein said assembling step includes aligning the straps such that the indexing locations on straps of the first set align with corresponding indexing locations on straps of the second set. 
   
   
     26. The method of  claim 25 , wherein said assembling step includes marking the indexing locations on a plurality of the straps during said aligning step. 
   
   
     27. The method of  claim 25 , wherein said step of providing the specifications of the initial, uninflated configuration includes generating tangible media providing manufacturing specifications for the restraint layer in the initial, uninflated configuration, whereby the manufacturing specifications include a unique identifier of each of the positioned. 
   
   
     28. The method of  claim 27 , wherein said step of generating tangible media, includes specifying relative positions of the indexing location on the strap. 
   
   
     29. The method of  claim 27 , wherein said step of generating manufacturing specifications includes, for each strap, generating a template positionable adjacent the strap to locate indexing locations thereon. 
   
   
     30. The method of  claim 29 , wherein said step of generating manufacturing specifications includes providing the specifications for the template, including an index gap dimension on the template. 
   
   
     31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein said step of generating manufacturing specifications includes generating specifications for a plurality of template types and, wherein each of the straps is identified with one of the template types. 
   
   
     32. The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the steps of:
 weaving the first set of straps with the second set of straps; and 
 indexing the straps of the first set with the straps of the second set by indexing the aligned corresponding indexing locations. 
 
   
   
     33. A system for manufacturing a restraint layer of an inflatable vessel, the restraint layer being constructed of a plurality of interfacing longitudinal straps and hoop straps and inflatable from an initial, uninflated configuration to an inflated configuration, said system comprising:
 a plurality of tables listing straps of a strap type and, for each strap, a unique identifier and manufacturing dimensions; and 
 a plurality of templates for marking indexing locations on a strap, each template being identifiable with at least one of the straps in one of the tables and positionable adjacent the identified strap in the initially, uninflated configuration to locate index locations thereon. 
 
   
   
     34. The system of  claim 33 , further including a computer-generated second table for specifying a plurality of the templates, the second table providing for each of a plurality of identified straps, dimensions of a corresponding template including a dimension corresponding to an index gap between indexing locations on the identified strap in the initial, uninflated configuration. 
   
   
     35. The system of  claim 34 , further including a marking table for each strap type, the marking table providing, for each strap, dimensions for marking the strap with alignment marks, such that a specified template is positionable adjacent the strap in alignment with the alignment marks to locate index locations on the strap. 
   
   
     36. The system of  claim 33 , wherein the tables are computer-generated tables, the tables identifying each strap of the restraint layer and manufacturing dimensions therefor. 
   
   
     37. The system of  claim 36 , wherein the tables specify the relative positions of the straps.